Viral sensation Haliey Welch has officially launched her token on the Solana blockchain, joining a growing trend of celebrity-backed tokens. Welch, who gained fame earlier this year with the viral “hawk tuah” onomatopoeia, has now taken her meme status to the blockchain with the debut of the HAWK token.
The “hawk tuah” phrase, which Welch coined to describe a sexual act, quickly became a viral sensation on social media, propelling her from a minimum wage worker without an Instagram account to an overnight internet celebrity. Now, the phrase has made its way onto the blockchain, with the HAWK token going live on Solana-based exchanges at 22:00 UTC on Wednesday, in collaboration with the token launchpad overHere.
Upon its launch, HAWK’s market cap soared to $491 million before plunging below $100 million. Prior to the token’s official release, Welch distributed free tokens to her followers on social media and within the meme and NFT communities during a campaign from Nov. 26 to Dec. 2.
A statement shared with CoinDesk confirmed that Welch cannot sell the HAWK tokens she received for one year, with the tokens vesting over a period of three years.
“Who doesn’t love a good meme?” Welch said in a prepared statement. “Becoming part of meme culture intrigued me to dive into the world of crypto. I’ve learned so much along the way. Launching my own token feels like the perfect next step—not only to create something meaningful for my fans but also to protect my community from scammers.”
HAWK is supported by a foundation based in the Cayman Islands, ensuring legal compliance with U.S. regulations, with hired directors overseeing its operations. The token raised funds from a group of private, non-U.S. investors, reaching a $34.5 million valuation in the process.
Celebrity tokens saw a brief surge earlier this year within the Solana ecosystem, with various niche media figures launching tokens on the Pump.Fun platform during a frenzied period in May. However, many of these tokens experienced steep declines, with some losing 99% of their value in mere hours or days.
Despite the volatility of celebrity tokens, Welch’s team is focused on the long term, aiming to build a strong community around the HAWK token and engage with her fanbase to ensure its success.
“Launching the $HAWK token creates a fun, secure, and innovative way for Haliey to connect with her community,” said Jonnie Forster, Welch’s manager. “It empowers her fans while tackling the confusion caused by scammers releasing unauthorized tokens using her name and likeness.”
